Quarterback D.J. Williams and the SIU Salukis have rebounded from a Week 0 loss and face three ranked teams in a row, beginning with Saturday at home against Youngstown State. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
“Absolutely embarrassing.”
“It’s going to be another tough season.”
“You can’t win kicking field goals.”
“This is just tremendously disappointing.”
The social media comments after the then-No. 15 Southern Illinois Salukis lost a Week 0 game to FCS newcomer West Florida spoke of doom, despair and a lost season.
The game was dampened even more by SIU quarterback D.J. Williams sustaining a knee injury.
In four weeks since that 34-31 defeat in Pensacola, Fla., though, SIU (3-2) has rebounded.
The Salukis are 3-1 since Week 0, with their only loss to FBS Illinois, a team with an NIL budget of reportedly $20 million.
SIU is very much alive in the FCS playoff picture thanks to Williams’ return after missing one game.
This week, they are ranked 21st in the FCS national media poll and 25th in the coaches’ poll.
“If you got on any social media (after the West Florida game), we were the laughingstock of the country, losing to a Division II team in its first game in Division I,” Williams said. “It was a time for us to closer as a team and closer as brothers, going through some fire. Going through that together builds a team.
“You’ve got to go through some adversity to be a great team,” he said.
Williams and the Salukis can fire up their playoff resume over the next three weeks with games against three ranked teams – at home Saturday against No. 8/10 Youngstown State, at No. 13/16 South Dakota on Oct. 10 and at home Oct. 17 against No. 10/11 Illinois State.
“You want to put yourself in position to be in these types of games,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “You know you have to be at your best.”
Williams, a team captain, has scored eight touchdowns and produced more than 800 yards of total offense since his return.
“Anytime you can get your starting quarterback, with what he means to our team, producing the level of play he consistently shows, it changes things,” Hill said.
Saturday’s game against YSU will showcase its quarterback, Beau Brungard, the reigning Walter Payton Award winner, and Williams, who finished eighth last season in the Payton voting.
“The film speaks for itself,” Hill said of Brungard. “He’s got a great presence.”
This season, Brungard leads the nation in total offense (1,677 yards), rushing for 461 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing for 1,216 yards and 13 TDs.
“He’s on pace to probably win (the Payton Award) again this year,” Williams said. “He changes the game.”
Youngstown State did not respond to interview requests for Brungard.
In the past two meetings against Southern, YSU’s quarterback has produced 836 yards and 10 total touchdowns.
“He’s very exciting to watch, and hopefully we can contain that excitement Saturday,” Williams said.
Kickoff: 4 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: CILfm.com
Key matchup to watch
SIU defense vs. Brungard: Plain and simple, Brungard can’t run wild. Over the past two years against SIU – in which the Salukis went 1-1 vs. YSU – Brungard produced 836 total yards, including 225 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. “He can run for 200 yards. He can throw for 300 yards,” Hill said. “He’s built like a running back.”
What’s at stake?
The next three weeks could be a gold mine for the Salukis’ playoff hopes. After facing No. 8/10 YSU, SIU travels to No. 13/16 South Dakota and hosts No. 10/11 Illinois State. Wins in any of those three games would be a resume builder.
Quick hits
Freshman kicker Weston Schofield, making only his second career start, was 4-for-4 on field goals against Murray State last week to win the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor Monday. For the season, he is 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts. The conference also recognized SIU junior guard Kellen Francis as its Offensive Lineman of the Week. Francis graded out at a team-best 95% in last weekend’s win and had seven knockdown blocks. He did not allow a sack or a QB hurry in the game. … SIU’s defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 55% of their passes this season. Youngstown QBs, meanwhile, are completing 73.7%. … At 41.9 yards, the Salukis have the highest kickoff return average in the MVFC this season. … Williams has 56 total touchdowns for the Salukis during his time in Carbondale. His head coach has 57. Two touchdowns this weekend would move Willams into third place all-time at SIU. “I hope he gets it on the first drive of the game this weekend,” Hill said. “I hope he climbs the list all the way to the top.” … Senior safety Sebastian Vargas did not have an interception in SIU’s first 11 games last season. In the past six games, including the 2025 finale at Illinois State, Vargas has four picks. He intercepted a pass for the third game in a row against Murray State. Vargas entered the transfer portal after last season but eventually returned. He did not take part in SIU’s spring practices. “It’s fun to see guys get rewarded that have put in a lot of time and effort,” Hill said. Vargas, who attended high school in Florida, began his career at a California junior college before walking on at FBS Florida. Hill said he found out about Vargas “through a friend I have in Orlando. He was just looking for a place to play.” … Senior Tae Marrero Jr. returned four punts for 63 yards, including a 22-yarder that set up an SIU touchdown. According to SIU, Marrero learned that his appeal for a fifth year of eligibility was approved during the team’s trip to Murray, Ky.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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